China's lunar rover 'declared dead'

[calyco]

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26153520

China's first lunar rover has been declared dead on the surface of the Moon, reports in state media say.

The robot "could not be restored to full function on Monday as expected", the China News Service said.

The Jade Rabbit, or Yutu in Chinese, suffered a serious mechanical problem in January and "has been unable to function since then", the report said.

However, China's Global Times newspaper later said the rover "showed signs of awakening on Wednesday".

It added that data about the rover's "current condition and repair progress is still being collected and analysed", and an official update was expected "in the coming days".

The Jade Rabbit's deployment on 15 December was the first successful landing on the Moon since 1976.

It was expected to operate for about three months.

Social media debate

The malfunction in late January emerged before the rover entered its scheduled dormancy period, Xinhua news agency reported at the time.

The rover was due to become dormant for 14 days during the lunar night, when there would be no sunlight to power the rover's solar panel, reports said.

If confirmed, the latest suggestion of the demise of the robot will be seen as a major blow to China's ambitious space programme.

The announcement has also generated extensive discussion on Chinese social media.

 

[bradly1101]

If confirmed, the latest suggestion of the demise of the robot will be seen as a major blow to China's ambitious space programme.

I don't understand this. They sent it up there, soft-landed it and rolled it out. That's a major accomplishment.

No space program is without (sometimes major) problems. The slight seems hypocritical.

 

[Doppel]

I don't understand this. They sent it up there, soft-landed it and rolled it out. That's a major accomplishment.

No space program is without (sometimes major) problems. The slight seems hypocritical.

It's a big achievement, but ultimately if the thing isn't working it's a mission failure. The US has a better rover driving around Mars without issue. At least their rockets don't explode on launch like NK's. China will figure it out eventually.

 

[RampantAndroid]

It's a big achievement, but ultimately if the thing isn't working it's a mission failure. The US has a better rover driving around Mars without issue. At least their rockets don't explode on launch like NK's. China will figure it out eventually.

While I think Curiosity is an accomplishment, I think the better comparison is Opportunity...which is nearly 10 years past its 90 day warranty and still running (and had its own scare where NASA thought it was dead.)

 

[Newbian]

Great... now china is polluting the moon as they have ran out of room to store their trash. 😛

 

[Bitek]

Made in China, and it breaks within two months? Shocking

 

[MarkLuvsCS]

Must see if you haven't: Patrick Stewart as China's Rover. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlX7VEA_A70

 

[Northern Lawn]

If they need a tow they can call Nasa's Mars rover, it's still up and running.

 

[compuwiz1]

Whether it be a lunar rover or a weedeater, Chinese produced stuff is junk. Why would they be surprised?

 

[Northern Lawn]

A chinese newspaper reported that they found no evidence of an American Moon Landing, so it's mission was accomplished.

 

[unokitty]

‘It came back to life’: China’s Jade Rabbit snaps out of silence but mechanical kinks remain

“Jade Rabbit went to sleep in an abnormal state. We were worried it wouldn’t be able to endure the lunar night’s extremely low temperatures, but it’s come back to life! As long as it’s alive, there’s the possibility it can be saved.”

Jade Rabbit back?

 

[Jaskalas]

I figure it's just waiting there, silently armed and ready to protect the Moon from the next western invasion.

 

[halik]

Still impressive they got it up there; it's not like NASA had 100% success. Anyone remember mars climate orbiter

 

[werepossum]

It's a big achievement, but ultimately if the thing isn't working it's a mission failure. The US has a better rover driving around Mars without issue. At least their rockets don't explode on launch like NK's. China will figure it out eventually.

Let's not get too cocky. Remember this is Mars Rover #3, after one sailed past unresponsive and one played meteorite.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Great... now china is polluting the moon as they have ran out of room to store their trash. 😛

There's still space in the US!

 

[shira]

Whether it be a lunar rover or a weedeater, Chinese produced stuff is junk. Why would they be surprised?

Really? Well, a hell of a lot of Americans own and seem to be perfectly happy with a hell of a lot of Chinese-built equipment. For example, almost every developer at my company uses a Chinese-manufactured Macbook Pro.

China has plenty of problems, but they seem to be having a lot of success manufacturing stuff that 1st-world countries want to purchase.

 

[1prophet]

Really? Well, a hell of a lot of Americans own and seem to be perfectly happy with a hell of a lot of Chinese-built equipment. For example, almost every developer at my company uses a Chinese-manufactured Macbook Pro.

China has plenty of problems, but they seem to be having a lot of success manufacturing stuff that 1st-world countries want to purchase.

How much success would they have if they had to comply with American, OSHA, EPA, and Labor standards?

 

[Dari]

I don't understand this. They sent it up there, soft-landed it and rolled it out. That's a major accomplishment.

No space program is without (sometimes major) problems. The slight seems hypocritical.

Not only is their Rover dead but they also had huge/critical help from the European Space Agency (ESA). Without the ESA's satellites China would not have been able to communicate with the rover. Not sure how this is a "huge accomplishment".

 

[Newell Steamer]

It was made in China - what did they expect?

 

[Scotteq]

The moon has bad Feng Shui?

 

[cyclohexane]

It was made in China - what did they expect?

you mean like that US mars rover that crashed because someone can't convert to metric units? Made in U.S.A.

 

[fskimospy]

One thing that people overlook is that in some ways the moon is a more challenging environment than Mars due to a much longer day/night schedule. (14 times longer) When you're dealing with battery powered rovers that rely on sunlight to recharge, that can be a big problem. If I'm not mistaken that's what got them in trouble here.

I think the Chinese rover is a pretty impressive accomplishment, despite its overall failure.

 

[dainthomas]

Still impressive they got it up there; it's not like NASA had 100% success. Anyone remember mars climate orbiter

Was that the one where we forgot to convert to metric or something?

 

[Newbian]

I am waiting to find out the percentage of hazardous lead they made it out of.

I am betting on the 20-25% range as it gives decent odds.

 

[Brovane]

One thing that people overlook is that in some ways the moon is a more challenging environment than Mars due to a much longer day/night schedule. (14 times longer) When you're dealing with battery powered rovers that rely on sunlight to recharge, that can be a big problem. If I'm not mistaken that's what got them in trouble here.

I think the Chinese rover is a pretty impressive accomplishment, despite its overall failure.

It is challenging dealing with the long lunar night.